Testing loose sand oil well formations



Aug. 4, 1959 l C.W.BREUKELMAN 2,897,897

.TESTING LOOSE SAND OIL WELL FORNATTONS Filed April 16, 1954 4 Shee'cs-Shee'rI 1 A 1 .um

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Aug. 4, 1959 c. w. BREUKELMAN TESTING LoosE SAND on. WELL FORMATIONS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 16, 1954 111 Irielt United States Patent TESTING LOOSE SAND vOIL WELL FGRMATIONS Christian W. Breukelman, White Plains, N.Y.

Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,795

28 Claims. (Cl. y166-186) The invention disclosed in this patent application relates to the testing of oil well formations, particularly intermediate formation intervals.

In production tests in unconsolidated sand formations there is a tendency for loose sand taken in with the production fluid to accumulate around the body of the testing tool and lock the tool to the well casing to such an extent as to hinder or actually prevent its removal from the well.

Objects of the present invention are to provide practical means and method for avoiding or overcoming this sand locking result and enable removal of the tool after completion of test.

These objects are attained in part through the utilization of a sleeve-like member on the tubing forming the body of the tool and through which the tubing may be lifted, if the sleeve becomes Ilocked to the casing, to open up circulation flow which will flush the holding sand up through the tubing. To be effective the tubing and sleeve must have a free sliding t.

An important further object of the invention is to prevent bending of the tubing such as might interfere with free sliding action of the sleeve member, which might be occasioned by hydrostatic pressure of the well on the packers isolating that particular length of the tubing.

Further objects of the invention are to provide apparatus and method suitable to present well drilling opera tions and equipment and which will be thoroughly practical and eflicient in every way. Other desirable objects and novel features of the invention will appear and are more fully set forth in the following specication.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specication illustrate certain present preferred embodiments and modes of use of the invention, but structure and operation may be modied and changed, particularly to suit various conditions encountered, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter dened and claimed.

Fig. l in the drawings is a brokenvertical sectional View illustrating a form `of the tool at the completion of a test, showing it clogged with loose sand locking the sleeve to the well casing, the arrow indicating tlow of production lluid up through the by-pass into the upper section of tubing forming the body of the tool;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tubing lifted to open up a sand clearing llow of circulation fluid out through the sleeve, arrows indicating entry of circulation iluid from the well above the tool into the lower tubing section and thence outwardly through |valved ports in the sleeve to ush the sand upwardly and out through the by-pass into the upper section of the tubing;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of the sleeve showing the ports therein controlled by outwardly opening rings of rubber-like material;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail as on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the second or lower shear ring;

2,897,897 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modiiication of the tool in which the lower, reduced end lof the tubing is left imperforate, thereby requiring flow of circulation fluid down through the lower end of the tubing instead of out through openings in the side of the tubing, as in the first illustration;

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional View of a modiiication in which the valving means for the escape ports in the sleeve is in the form of rings of grease which will oppose inward ow into the sleeve but will open to permit outward, sand clearing flow of the circulation fluid, the sleeve shown releasably held by the shear pin in this instance in the upper, normal or testing position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken sectional detail showing the valving grease carried by annular cup rings surrounding the ported portions of the sleeve;

Figs. 8 and 9 are broken sectional views illustrating a shortened form of the tool in which tubing and sleeve have a lesser movement to shift from the testing to the sand clearing position, the iirst of these views showing the tool in the sand locked condition and the second, the tubing lifted and circulation flow in effect to flush the holding sand upward and'out of the tubing.

Figs. 10, ll and 12 are broken sectional continuation views showing in Figs. l0 and 1l, equipment above the tool for controlling llow and the tubing anchor for supporting the upper end of the tool above the upper packer, and Fig. l2 showing the hydraulic anchor for securing the lower end of the tool against upward pressure from the hydrostatic head in the well.

Basically the invention comprises tubing 15 carrying upper and lower packers 16, 17 engageable with the well casing 18, perforated at 45, to deline therewith an annular collection chamber 19 and a sleeve 20 slidably engaged on said tubing, subject to sand-locking, ported at 21 and which when the tubing is lifted in respect thereto, will afford circulation out through these ports to drive sand 22 collected in the chamber upwardly, out through by-pass 23, up through the tubing leading to the surface.

A closure 46 at the upper end of by-pass 23 divides the tubing into upper and lower, noncommunicating sections and this by-pass in the position for testing the formation shown in Fig. 1 provides communication from chamber 19 for ow of production fluid up into the upper section of tubing, as indicated by the arrow.

Ports 24 in the side of the lower tubing section below closure 46 and above upper packer 16, are provided to admit of circulation fluid under pressure which, as shown in Fig. 2, will in the rst form of the invention shown in Figs. l and 2 pass out through openings 25 in the lower end portion of the tubing into the annulus 26 Fig. 2 in back sleeve 20. In the second form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 and later described, the circulation llluid under pressure is passed out the lower end of the tubing and thence upwardly into the annulus 26 in back of sleeve 20.

Means are provided for normally retaining the sleeve in the upper test position, Fig. 1, on the tubing, such means beingreleasable by pull on the tubing when the sleeve becomes sand-locked to the casing to permit upward movement of the tubing in respect to the sleeve.

In the illustration a shear pin at 27 serves this purpose, Fig. 1 showing the pin holding the sleeve in upper, testing position on the tubing, and Fig. 2 the pin as having sheared and released the tubing from the sand-held sleeve.

A collar 28 is shown secured on the lower end of the tubing, in position to limit the intended relative movement of tubing and sleeve.

This collar is shown secured by a shear pin 47 which will let go to release the tubing from both the sleeve and the lower packer in the extreme event that these parts become so solidly interlocked in the casing that it is 'L mpossible to remove them after employing the releasing circulation described.

In the formV of the invention iirst illustrated the perforated lower end portion of the body tubing is of reduced diameter, as indicated at 29, and this reduced diameter portion is shown as having longitudinal ribs 30 to center and guide the tubing inthe sleeve and provide uniform clearance 26 between sleeve and tubing in the lifted circulation providing position of the tubing.

While the porting of the sleeve may vary, in the illustration the ports 21 are shown arranged in circular rows and graduated in size with the smaller ports at the top and the larger ports, gradually increasing in size, toward the bottom of the sleeve. This, as indicated in Fig. 2, is to initiate sand-lifting circulation at the top where accumulation may be the lightest, and to carry the lifting effect gradually downward to sweep out the last remnants.

In the testing position the ports are closed against entry of sand in back of the sleeve by valving means shown in Fig. 3, in the form of rubber or other expansible rings 31 seated in annular grooves 32 surrounding the ported sections of the sleeve and having at their lower edges thickened flanges or beads 33 engaged in anchorage grooves 34.

These surrounding elastic rings seal the ports closed against entry of sand or fluid during testing operations but open freely, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit outward flow of circulation fluid under pressure.

As a further precaution to prevent inward iiow of fluid through the sleeve and to assure freedom of movement of the tubing in the sleeve, O-rings 35 are shown located in grooves on the larger portion of the tubing, in position at opposite sides of the escape ports 21 in the sleeve, thus in the testing, Fig. 1 position, to seal oif each row of ports. The sleeve is shown as positioned in its upper, testing location on the tubing by an annular stop shoulder 48.

At the bottom the sleeve rests on a collar 49 directly over and applying pressure to the lower packer 17,. Upward pressure against this packer may thus be applied directly against the lower end of the sleeve.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification wherein the lower, reduced end portion 29a of the tool, instead of being perforated as at 25, Fig. 1, for outward flow of circulating fluid, is left imperforate so that all flow of circulating uid downward through the tool will be out the lower, open end of the tubing and thence upward into annular space 26 between the tubing and interior of the sand loosening sleeve.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a possible variation in the form of valving means for preventing ingress of production iiuid and permitting outflow of circulation uid through the sand protection sleeve in the form of a grease 36 supported in cup-like rings 37 surrounding the ported portions of the sleeve 20'.

This grease is selected or prepared to be unaffected by oil products in the well and well temperatures and is of such consistency that it will hold against inward pressure from formation flow but will release and open the ports from circulation ilow pressure exerted through the annulus 26.

Fig. 7 shows how the grease in being placed, may enter through ports 21 as a thin lling between the tubing and surrounding sleeve to serve first as a seal and lubricant for slippage of the tubing up through the sleeve and then in a valving capacity, opening to permit outward flow of pressurized circulating fluid through the sleeve for lifting and carrying deposited sand upwardly and out through the by-pass 23 and upper tubing.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a form of the invention in which the length of the tool is reduced by shortening the movement required to shift from the testing to the sandclearing or circulating position.

To make this possible that part of the tubing which is surrounded by the sleeve, is ported at 38 between the O-rings 3S so that in the normal upper or testing position of the sleeve, as in Fig. 8, these ports will be closed by solid portions of the sleeve between the rows of outlet passages 21.

To uncover the inner ports 38 only a relatively short upward movement of the tubing is required. Then, as shown in Fig. 9, ports 38 in the tubing in register with the ports 21 in the sleeve, will admit circulation pressure flow outward through the one-way expansible valving rings 31 into annular collecting chamber 19 and upward through by-pass 23, out through the upper section of' tubing.

This short stroke form of the tool has certain advantages, including that of shorter over-al1 length, the lower, reduced section of the tubing shown in the other views being unnecessary.

To complete clean-out of sand collected in the chamber 19, the lowermost exible valve ring 31 may be faced to open downwardly, instead of upwardly as the rest of such valving means are shown. This lower valve ring will then operate as a bae or deflector to divert circulation fluid downward and outward into the lowest portion of the chamber. The graduated arrangement of ports 21 with the largest at the bottom, assures suicient ow through these lower ports to lift and flush out the sand from this lower portion of the chamber.

While the tool described may preferably be used with the special valve disclosed in C. W. Breukelman Patent No. 2,646,127 of July 21, .1953, it is contemplated that the invention may be used with conventional control valve equipment such as now available on the market.

Thus as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a circulating sub 39 such as known as Baker type E, a Johnston retaining valve 40 and a Guiberson type Z duplex valve 41 may be interposed in the tubing above the testing tool, operable according to known practice to control communication at port 50 between tubing and well casing, ow through the tubing by way of check valve 51 and communication between casing and tubing by way of ports 52.

Figs. l1 and l2 illustrate the means for supporting and holding the tubing against bending from hydrostatic pressure exerted downward and upward against the packers at opposite ends of the tool.

The tubing anchor indicated at 42, Fig. 1l, may be a Guiberson or other conventional form of anchor which when expanded or set against the casing at 53 will support the tubing below it and hence prevent hydrostatic pressure in the well from forcing the upper packer downwardly.

Fig; 12 shows a hydraulic anchor 43 of the Guiberson type rotatably mounted on the tubing below the sand release sleeve and immediately above the lower packer 17 so as to take the upward force of hydrostatic pressure in the well.

This hydraulic anchor is shown as protected against sand by O-rings S4 between it and the tubing, and a wiper disc 44 between the top of it and the sand sleeve 20.

It will be noted that the testing tool shown in Fig. 12 is of the imperforate tubing type illustrated in Fig. 5

In all examples the upper packer 16 is shown supported on a xed annular shoulder 55 on the lower section of the tubing.

With the tool supported at the top by the tubing anchor 42, Fig. 11, and secured against upward pressure at the bottom by the hydraulic anchor 43, Fig. l2, the intermediatelength of tubing between the packers is enabled to resist bending and is kept straight even with reduced pressure in the collection chamber 19 and heavy hydrostatic pressure from the well downward on the upper packer and upward on the lower packer. This is important as saving the tubing against injury and particularly as to keeping the tubing straight so that it will not bind and may remain free to slide upward in the sleeve for the circulation required to remove the sand and release the tool.

OPERATION 1. Lowering into well In the example illustrated in Figs. 10, ll and 12, only the Guiberson valve 41 is open. The slips of tubing anchor 42 are in retracted position shown. The casing being full of drilling mud, the Guiberson valve equalizes the hydrostatic pressures above, below and between the packers, reducing wear of same as they pass down through the casing. The by-pass port 24 is permanently open, permitting the tool to be lowered or raised in the well, full of fluid, without difliculty. The Johnston valve 40 being closed, prevents drilling fluid from entering the tubing, the tubing remaining empty.

2. Testing When the packer cups straddle the gun-perforated interval to be tested, the tubing is rotated to the right suiiciently to release the tubing anchor slips and then is lowered to cause the slips to engage the casing. Further slight lowering of the tubing then shears the pin in the Guiberson valve 41 and this valve closes. Then with still further lowering of the tubing the Johnston valve 40 will open, communicating the empty tubing above it with the space between the packers and the formation interval to be tested. Two things will then occur, the upper and lower packers will seal against the casing, it being noted that hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud column will be transmitted through inlets or by-pass ports 24 to the lower packer. The Guiberson hydraulic anchor 43 engages the casing, there being high pressure of the mud column behind the piston slips and low pressure in front of them, since the space between the packers is in communication with empty tubing. The tubing anchor 42 and hydraulic anchor 43 support the downward and upward loads on the upper and lower packers. There is then no Vtendency for the tubing between the packers to bend due to longitudinal compression.

Reduced pressure between the packers results in flow of formation fluids into the collection chamber 19 of the tool and up through by-pass 23 into the upper section of the tubing.

The pressure between the packers during testing never exceeds the hydrostataic pressure of the mud column, therefroe the packers and hydraulic anchor hold throughout the test.

3. Removing tool from well Raise tubing. This closes Johnston Valve 40 first and stops flow up the tubing. Then the Guiberson valve 41 opens, equalizing pressures above, below Yand between the packers. This causes the hydraulic anchor 43 to release, and since hydrostatic pressure in the well is once again exerted against the gun-perforations, flow of formation fluids into the well ceases.

Then ifoperator wishes, the Baker valve 39 may or may not be opened to circulate formation iluids out of the tubing before the tool is pulled from the well.

If no sand has settled between the packers, the tool may be removed withoutdifliculty, the sand sleeve between the packers remaining in original position, as in Fig. 12.

lf sand has settled between the packers to an extent such as indicated in Figs. 1 and 8, it will by frictionprevent upward movement of the sleeve, in effect anchoring sleeve 20 to the casing. The rubber wiper 44, as illustrated in Fig. 12, will prevent sand setting next to the hydraulic anchor 43.

Under these circumstances, with the loose sleeve anchored to the casing, the tubing is given an upward lift to shear the pin 27 below the lower packer, this permitting the tubing to slide upward through the sleeve to the extent indicated in Figs. 2, 5 and 9.

This, in the case of Figs. 1, 5 and 6 constructions, will bring the lower, reduced diameter section 29 of the tubing up to the point where the lowest shear collar 28 meets the upper shear collar 56 below the lower packer previously held by shear pin 27.

The tubing then may be lowered just suiciently to reset tubing anchor 42, close Guiberson valve 41 and open Johnston valve 40 once more. Also, if necessary, the tubing may be closed temporarily at the surface to prevent further iiow from the formation.

Drilling mud may then be circulated down the casing annulus through by-pass ports 24 above upper packer, out through ports 21 in the sleeve and back up through bypass 23, up the tubing to wash out the sand, as indicated inFigs. 2, 5 and 9.

After releasing sleeve 20, 20', from its sand-looked condition in the casing the tool may be pulled out of the well.

If inan extreme case the sand cannot be washed out suiciently to release the sleeve, the tubing can be pulled to shear the lower pin 47, Figs. 2 and 5. This will release the tubing but leave the sleeve, hydraulic anchor and lower packer in the well, later to be recovered by conventional methods.

In the short stroke form of the tool illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the method described may be modified to suit action of that type tool.

The sand release sleeve has been shown with two different forms of one-way valving means, the outwardly opening elastic band type, Fig. 3, and the outwardly opening grease plus type, Fig. 7, but other forms of valving mechanism suited to the purpose may be employed. In both forms illustrated the valving means is closed and protected against abrasive action of the sand entering with formation uid, but will open outwardly to pressure of circulation'fluid applied from the upper well casing downwardly and out through the lower section of tubing.

What is claimed is:

1. A testing tool Ifor producing sandladen fluid from a selected formation interval in a well substantially lilled with liquid, comprising tubing extending into the well bore to a point adjacent said formation interval, said tubing having upper and lower non-communicating sections separated by a closure, upper and lower packers in spaced relation on said tubing below said closure engageable with the surrounding well bore'wall to define an annular chamber about the tubing isolating the selected formation interval, a by-pass conduit communicating said isolated annular chamber with said upper tubing section, said lower tubing section having an opening in the wall of the same below said closure and above said upper packer communicating the well bore outside said tubing above said upper packer with the well bore below the lower of said packers, a sleeve slidably engaged on the tubing between the packers and subject to possible holding effect of sand accumulating in said annular chamber, said sleeve having ports for ow of uid therethrough, one-way valving means for said ports arranged to prevent inward ilow but permit outward flow through the sleeve, means for releasably retaining the lower of said packers and said sleeve in an initial upper position on the tubing, said means being releasable by manipulation of the tubing in the event of the sleeve becoming sand-locked to the well bore wall and enabling lifting of the tubing to a higher position relative to the sleeve and lower packer, said tubing and said sleeve having means cooperative in said lifted, higher position of the tubing for iluidly communicating .the section of tubing below the upper of said packers with said chamber via the ports in said sleeve, thereby permitting circulation of fluid down the annulus between the well wall and tubing above the upper packer, through the opening in the tubing wall above the upper packer into the section of tubing below, then outwardly through said ports of the sleeve and said one-way valving meansV into said annular chamber, and upwardly through said by-pass conduit into the upper section of tubing to clear the chamber of collected sand.

A 2. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said last mentioned communicating means includes opposing spaced walls of lower tubing section and sleeve providing space in back of the sleeve for upward and outward ow of circulating fluid.

3. Testing tool according to claim l, in which said last mentioned communicating means is provided in part by a lesser diameter portion of the lower section of tubing disposed in back of the sleeve with the tubing in the second, lifted position described.

4. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said last mentioned communicating means is provided in part by ports in said lower section of tubing positioned to be in back of the ports in the sleeve when the tubing is in said lifted position. Y

5. Testing `tool according to claim 1, in which said last mentioned communicating means includes inpart ports in the lower section of tubing out of register with the ports in the sleeve in said rst mentioned position of the tubing and disposed to register with the sleeve ports when the tubing is in said lifted position.

6. Testing `tool according to claim l, in which said ports in the sleeve are disposed longitudinally of the sleeve graduated in size Iwith the smaller ports toward the top and the larger ports toward the bottom of the sleeve.

7. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said ports in the sleeve are arranged in circular rows spaced longitudinally of the sleeve.

8. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said one-way valving means comprises elastic closures overlying the outer ends of said ports.

9. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said ports are `arranged in `a circular series 'and said valving means comprises an elastic band surrounding the sleeve over the outer ends of the ports, the sleeve having a seat locating said band on the sleeve.

l0. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said valving means comprises greasy material supported in position closing the outer ends of the ports.

11. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said valving means comprises a cup-like support on the sleeve and grease-like material sustained by said support.

12. Testing tool according to claim 1, with `a greasy medium interposed between the tubing and the surround- |ing sleeve.

13. Testing tool according to claim l, in which the ports are disposed in longitudinally spaced relation and in which packing rings are positioned on the tubing at opposite sides of the ports in the sleeve.

14. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which the means for releasably retaining the sleeve and tubing in the initial position includes a positioning collar adjoining the lower packer and a shear pin securing said collar to the tubing.

15. Testing tool according to claim 14, with a second positioning collar at the lower end of the tubing engageable by said first collar, and a second shear pin releasably securing said second collar to the lower end of fthe tubing.

16. Testing tool according t'o claim 1, `and comprising further a second retaining means at the lower end of the tubing releas'able by further upward lifting of the tubing to free the tubing from the sleeve and lower packer.

17. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which the lower end portion of the tubing is of reduced diameter and provided with ribs centralizing said reduced diameter portion within the sleeve.

18. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said sleeve ispositioned yat the top by a stop shoulder on the tubing, and lis positioned at the bottom by the lower packer.

19. Testing tool according to claim 1, in which said tubing is connected with ow tubing extending to the surface of the well and in which control valve mechanism is located in said ow tubing above the tool.

20. Testing tool according to claim 1 comprising further, a tubing anchor connected with the tubing above the tool and a hydraulic anchor connected with the lower end of the tool and thereby supporting the tubing between the packers against hydraulic compression pressure from the well above and below the tool.

21. Testing tool according to claim 1 with casing engageable supporting .means connected with the upper end of the tubing above the sleeve for supporting the tool lagainst downward hydrostatic pressure and casing engaging means on the tubing below the sleeve for supporting the lower end of the tool against upward hydrostatic pressure in the well.

22. Testing tool according to claim 1 and comprising further, means on the tubing and engageable with surrounding casing for holding the tubing straight between the packers to prevent binding of the tubing in the sleeve.

23. Oil well tool according to claim 1, in which the lower extremity of said tubing is permanently open, permitting the tool to be lowered or raised in the well.

24. Testing tool according to claim 19, comprising further a tubing anchor connected with said ow tubing below said control valve mechanism.

25. Testing tool according to claim 19 comprising further a tubing anchor connected with said tubing above the tool and below said control valve mechanism and a hydraulically actuated anchor rotatably and slidably disposed on the tubing between said sleeve and the lower packer.

26. Testing tool according to claim 20 with means for preventing deposition of sand around said hydraulic anchor.

27. Testing tool according to claim 20 with a wiper engageable with the well casing above said hydraulic anchor for preventing sand settling in the casing next to said hydraulic anchor.

28. Production testing tool comprising tubing, upper and lower separable packers on said tubing, a sleeve slidably engaged on the tubing between said packers, said tubing and sleeve being relatively shiftable longitudinally of the tubing and said tubing being relatively shiftable longitudinally in respect to said lower packer, outwardly opening one-way valve means on said sleeve for passing circulation uid outwardly and preventing flow inwardly through said sleeve, said tubing covering said valve means in the lowered position of the tubing in the sleeve to prevent access of circulation fluid to said valve means in the lowered position of the tubing in the sleeve and said tubing uncovering said valve means in the lifted position of the tubing in the sleeve, said tubing being ported for admitting circulation Huid to said valve means when the tubing is lifted after the sleeve has become sand locked in a well.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

